RC4WD Beast Build

[Cerveja]

Just picked up a BEAST II Kit from RC4WD. I have been wanting one for a while and when I saw that RC4WD was no longer carrying it on their website, I feared it may have gone out of production, rather than simply "OUT OF STOCK" like times before. So I quickly found one of two left on Amazon and pulled the trigger. The Kit arrived on Wednesday and her it is Saturday and I am already electronics shopping.

It took me about three evenings to 95% the chassis and partially build the cab. I will post my complaints thus far, but they seems typical for most the other owners I have read. (1) Lots of tiny parts and tiny screws, some seem unnecessarily complicated. (2) No spare tire, Really? I buy the kit and assemble it myself and you won't even chip in a Spare? (3) The BOM for the kit is really extensive, but no quantities are listed. So it is hard to say if something is just missing or I dropped it. (4) The beadlocks are insane, easily 30-40 minutes a tire (Thank God there is no spare). Forget trying to use a nut driver, tweezers and loctite are your friends. (5) Not a complaint, T-Case, trans and Axles come preassembled, just need to add brackets and trusses, big time saver.

As I said the Cab is partially assembled, I stopped about midway so I could figure out the best way to build, paint and detail the interior. This isn't going to be a hard core wheeler for me, more of a show piece and fun toy. So I am planning to go a little overboard (by my standards) rather than simply putting the cab together and running it. The end goal is to turn it into a Crawler Hauler for my Axial XJ and Tamiya Frog. Once the Plastic is complete, I plan to remove it and install a 50's era COE cab and flatbed to fit the XJ. So while I am building the cab, I am measuring and rebuilding it in CAD to design the COE body to replace the military one. Not sure if I am ready to take on a 'kinda-scratch-build' so we will see if it turns out as well as the vision.

I am currently running a Futaba 4PLS radio and plan on using a R304SB receiver, still debating on servos and motor. However since the lights and sound might get a little crazy, I may need to bump up to a multi channel radio if I am not happy with the lighting plan. I would like to fit the interior with either a POV or GoPro, because who doesn't like really long boring movies of tiny cars creeping around the back yard? In the meantime, here are some build pics thus far. Off to Larry's to spend some cash - Enjoy!

Unboxed - Kinda - Lots of parts, but great packaging.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Z3ML3M8YFZ97JKagj3f5b2wsBIqzk-N6/view?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IYf5Hqw4IcgurRvGO7LTmRhjw74wru25/view?usp=sharing

Seriously - I love the fact that no glue is required, but what a pain in the arse!
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hhx-wBD8spX3ZX3e8O4ZP-8-RK8M5Loz/view?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kT9Jpy77KXlfalla_J-GNREimuHIYva2/view?usp=sharing

Make sure you have some room to spread out for this one. Lots of bags and bolts.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ibyTgSjYJ8WhdmjZzVJoxBVFhvr5--NS/view?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/19sp-cD82FpIQlzr3IE7WfW67ek0NJp0u/view?usp=sharing

Good stopping point for the cab. I want to paint as much in one go. I heard the cab latch can be fickle, so I need to build a nut plate inside the cab so I can install the cab release after paint. This way if I need to service or remove it, I can do so after the fact. Planning on painting it without a roof and without a front panel. I will glue the front in place first, than magnet the roof on to have more room for POV cameras later in life. For Paint, I am leaning towards Desert Tan, I think it will look good against all the other black bits. Recommendations for paint codes, manufacturers and painting tips greatly appreciated.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-dHuwj6GAFVAWpK5fdtQ7WvlcDrJFWvS/view?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HU3BaHUCYkiHLVMFDkHxzYyfrdO0huWs/view?usp=sharing

 

[AK KRAWLER]

Great build so far, keep up the good work man!!!

Going to be a super cool rig.

 

[Cerveja]

Chassis is rolling, most of the controls are mounted, still need to settle on a motor, ESC and lighting. Meanwhile painting has begun. Very happy with the Dessert Tan look. Picked up some Tamiya Light Sand (TS-46), although the Wooden Deck Tan (TS-68 ) is not far off. I wanted to go Flat Black on the trim bits, but the local shop was out, so I went with Metallic Black (TS-40). I think it was a good choice. The gloss and a little flake really pops against the flat tan. So Many little parts and glue and tweezers. I didn't want to glue the whole thing together and paint it all one color, so I am taking a little time to 'spruce up' the drab one tone military paint. Spraying some of the detail parts black to draw attention to the level of detail in the kit.

Front Panel before paint. Few more gripes about the kit. Front panel is two pieces, the Cab Hinge is screwed through the Lower Grille front then glued to the main flat panel. The screws for the hinge are real close to breaking out through the back surface. These parts should be molded as one. That way all the weight of the Cab at the hinge wouldn't be carried through the immediate glue joint.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1024tqMdghbDfr5ACMBJrRRXKlBsJATKE/view?usp=sharing

Not a fan of the metal Tail Lights gluing to the bottom of the plastic bed. I would have rather seen them screwed to the bed or frame.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/10PBR0JN8EJloF-rJXq34dxntHhI2teAM/view?usp=sharing

Hinge panel turned out good. Used a small length of 0.078 rod to make sure all three hinges were aligned as I glued them in place. Again they could have molded the three tiny hinge bits into the panel to make sure they lined up and stayed in place. Three pieces on each side of all three hinges is a bit crazy. They do include a recess for the hinge pads to sit into, but a locating pin would have been convenient.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OrU2edLXRE2npx0jmkPSN5vPo6E0kVA_/view?usp=sharing

Again, the level of tiny parts is kinda ridiculous. They could have molded the two locating ribs into the top panel, but instead, two ribs on each top panel, Four sidewalls and a bottom wall. Plus six skinny ribs on three sides and two handles on the front side.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-pKISAez3M3X0UQAoNFgYN3JEP9rSdT0/view?usp=sharing

 

[Cerveja]

Got back to assembling the bed. Almost as annoying as putting together the bead locks. Ordered lights and motor. Still waiting for the ESC to come back in stock. Starting to layout the interior this week, nothing to fancy, just something more than an empty box.


https://drive.google.com/file/d/1No_nSVqrYGg5SJBZBLG_J9ohTdiKnj_M/view?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_XXbEQCKDegruSUb2UdWblHIZ4p8A397/view?usp=sharing

 

[Cerveja]

Truck bed is nearly finished. I need to run lights and install the retention pins to secure it to the frame. Back to working on the cab next week. The seats just came in, lights should be here Monday. I need to spend some time trying my hand at fabbing a dashboard.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SDw5vcRuAqKUKUSwQkHVzitMui1TNoWv/view?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RN8CZ3CtyxuvdimMB_1eUXThChUQV9A0/view?usp=sharing

 

[Thloftus]

Your build looks great! Awesome work with how you’ve painted it!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Cerveja]

Finally got the interior done! I wound up doing it in three sections instead of one piece as planned since I didn't have a block of material large enough to cut it all at one time. Oh well. Lights are probably too bright, I should have went with something a bit smaller, but I had extra LED's from another project and I didn't prototype them to see how over powering they would be in the final version. I went a little high-tech-looking on the Dashboard and center console. I had some old school round gages printed out, but they didn't look as good. I figure since the chassis has 21st century four links instead of traditional Leaf Springs, makes sense to give the driver something more modern as well.

I debated going all black or a matte grey on the dashboard, but I decided to stick with the brown like I used on the seats. I imagine in reality the entire truck, inside and out would have gotten one blast of light tan in, out, under and all over. But I think having a darker brown draws out the contrast a bit more and gives everything a bit more detail.

Enjoy!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ro84zEhuq4-5Nj_--hqjoSBoxuZak3An/view?usp=sharing

Kinda bummed the 'Computer Screen' in the center console didn't turn out better. Not sure what happened with it. I don't know if some of the ink bled thru when I glued it or if the tape pulled some of the paper fibers off. Not entirely sure, the image was much cleaner when I glued it down, now it looks scratched up after final paint.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ArhaAHlcH4oi8CyZzo2FWURPaXky724Q/view?usp=sharing

With the dash and center console in place, I can finally glue the front panel done and finish the outside of the cab. Super excited to be in the final stage of the build. Still waiting on an ESC and Sound/Light controller, so finish wiring will have to be the last step.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BRcVuaiIt2r87tNTYhNKKdDq6kTN8iuR/view?usp=sharing

Even left a little room for the GoPro to fit. Not perfect, I need to stabilize it a bit more since the camera keeps tipping over, when jostled. Since the seats are adjustable and removable, I will probably wind up building a wider base that uses the magnets in the floor for the passenger seat to hold the Go Pro in place. When I want to run the camera, I will just pop out the seats and insert the camera and Mount. Not an ideal situation, but it will be fine.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1N5HJ8iLdzoVMOuHJKyRhR8XkBYVFjC16/view?usp=sharing

 

[Cerveja]

DONE! Kinda. Snapped one of the c-clips holding the roof door hinge pins in place. So that will likely have me searching for a hardware bag to find a replacement. Haven't mounted the hinges to the bumper yet, still waiting on the ESC and sound unit. So I need to complete the wiring which is probably going to be easier without bolting the cab in place.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KYyc0tzf7cwnRtBrW_drbLGAuz3iVIrI/view?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kExaa6GGo36C9X4jsv3X0UhYrngibm2L/view?usp=sharing

I am good friends with an Ex-Army guy who really digs the look of the vehicle but commented that he was pretty sure it wasn't a US vehicle. I wasn't sure if it was based off any one Military vehicle, but agreed it probably wasn't American. Therefore we gave it a little 'wrong side of the road flare' on the tailgate.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kS8ySvJjeRFq7wSh2LK2w6CEU97WovfE/view?usp=sharing

I took a slightly different direction on the removable roof panel. I glued the LH Side 'long' angled panel in place to the body and the RH Side 'short' angled panel to the roof. I then mounted a small magnet in the rear bay near the center. The panel fit pretty snug before I mounted the spare tire. But with the tire mounted in place, the roof is forced under the long panel making it stay in place even better. I generally have to squeeze the tire a little bit to take the pressure off the roof to lift the panel off. Kinda got lucky on that one.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1G8YjhQwhegM3baIwryfGNFcEyznXg6xF/view?usp=sharing

Anxious to get the Speed Controller in and take her for a test run. That first scratch is gonna hurt. Those mirrors are just begging to get ripped off the side. Now I just need to get back into CAD and making the Antique COE body. It is going to take a little time printing up the panels and figuring out how to assemble and paint them all.

 

[The Dark Knight]

Look great in the tan/sand colour.

I recently bought a new Beast II kit and was a bit disappointed to see it came with a pre-assembled body. I contacted RC4WD who advised they included the pre-assembled body with the last of the kits due to the model being discontinued.

I'm feeling a bit robbed now as I was looking forward to assembling the body.